bChapter /bb135 /b

bAria’s /bPOV

A dead silence fell over the dinner table.

I sat there, my mouth slightly open, my mind still processing every word my mom had just said.

Did I hear that correctly?

The one thing she wanted was….for Grayson to marry me??

Shocked and confused, I quickly nced at Grayson to get a glimpse of his reaction. I expected him to be as shocked as I was. But no. His expression had turned dark, as if he was furious.

“You have no right to make that demand,” he said coldly.

My mother immediately lifted her chin. Her fear of Grayson seemed to have vanished instantly. “Why not? I’m your girlfriend’s mother. How long have you been dating her–almost a year by now? And there’s been zero progress. I won’t let you screwing her around for free anymore that’s for sure.”

My face flushed. She made me sound like a product she owned, something that she wasn’t willing to let Grayson use for free. I felt ashamed.

“Mom!” I hissed, hoping she would stop.

But of course, my mother wasn’t one to give up easily. “What, Aria? Don’t tell me that’s not what you want. Your mother is just fighting for what’s rightfully yours. You should be on my side.”

“Just stop messing around my life!” I snarled angrily. Then I immediately turned to Grayson, my voice almost pleading, “I had no idea she was going to do this. This wasn’t my idea.”

I hoped he would meet my eyes, so he’d see I was telling the truth.

But no.

His cold gaze remained fixed on my mother. He didn’t even look at me.

“The answer is no,” he said to my mom firmly. “Name something else. Or you get nothing.” fn286f Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel/fn286f

If my dear mother had any sense, she would immediately change her request to money or luxury bags or clothes or practically anything you could think of in this world. That way at least then she’d walk away with something.

But she didn’t. Instead, she acted even more stubborn than Grayson. “No. That’s the only thing I want. Marry her, or I won’t agree to anything you ask of me.”

“I’m asking you to save your daughter’s life. That shouldn’t require any damn conditions. You are her mother,” Grayson’s voice rumbled with anger.

b10:33 /bbFri/bb, /bbSep /bb26 /b

:

My mother scoffed, leaning back in bher /bchair and bcrossing /bher arms. “I guess you don’t understand bhow /bblife /bbworks /bbfor /bpeople like us, Alpha Grayson. To put it simple–it sucks. Marrying you is the only bmeaningful /bbthing /bthat’s bever /bgoing to happen to Aria. If she can’t be your wife, there’s no point in me bsaving /bbher/bb. /bShe bmight as /bbwell /bbe dead.”

…WHATb? /b

A bone–chilling cold shot down from the top of my head.

So that’s what she thought? That I had no value beyond marrying a powerful man? What kind of mother….says that to her daughter’s face!

Grayson was clearly enraged by her shamelessness. “You’re the first person brave enough to ckmail me. Do you know the consequences?”

“So you’re not going to marry my daughter? No matter what. Is that it?” My god! My mother had the nerve to keep pressing.

“I already gave you my fucking answer.” Grayson’s gaze was terrifying.

Mom clenched her teeth, shot me an angry look, then looked back at Grayson.

Suddenly, her expression changed. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she cried out pitifully:

“-Oh my god, my poor daughter! You let this man screw you for so long and for what? He doesn’t give a damn about you. I’d probably hang myself by this point if I were you!”

Her voice was so loud, ear–splitting in the quiet, elegant restaurant. Nearly every customer on the floor turned

to stare at usb. /b

I felt my face steaming. “What the hell are you doing? Shut up mom!”

But she shot up from her chair instead, holding her napkin and kept crying in a dramatic voice:

“What? So I can’t even point out the truth? Look at him. He obviously doesn’t care. Your life is in danger, and he can’t even do this one simple thing? My god, it’s like you are not his girlfriend–more like a fucking prostitute for free! If this carries on, the whole world willugh at you!”

I shot up from my chair and grabbed her shoulders. HARD. In that moment, I really wanted to crush her bones.

“One more word, and you are no longer my mother,” I hissed through teeth clenched so tight I tasted blood in my mouth.

She gave me a sly smile in return. “Then who will save your life my darling?b” /b

“Guards,” Grayson’s icy voice cut through. “Remove this woman from the restaurant.”

The guards stationed nearby immediately moved forward at their Alpha’smand. But my mother snatched up her purse and coat, screeching, “Don’t bother, I can walk out on my own…. And shame on you, Grayson Hart. Even the poorest guy pays his whore.”

b10:33 /bbFri/bb, /bbSep /bb26 /b

She turned sharply and strode out of the restaurant.

G

So you hadis

bI /bstood frozen in ce. I could feel the stares from strangers all around me–curious, surprised, mocking, disgusted, scornful… Those looks made my whole body burn, as if I were being crucified on the spot.

I looked at Grayson almost pleadingly, hoping he would say something, or at least give me a look to show bthat /bhe understood.

But no.

His gray eyes were still fixed on my mother’s empty seat. The profile of his handsome face was as cold as a stone sculpture.

“I meant it… I really didn’t know she would ask for this…” I whispered, my heart filled with shame.

He cut me off. “You should go after her. Talk to her.”

Yesb, /bI should.

For my own sake, I should talk some sense into my mother and convince her to drop this crazy deal. Even though all I wanted was to stay here with Grayson.

“Oh, okay.”

Tears circling in my eyes, I quickly pushed my chair back and hurried after my mother. I was afraid if I was there for one more second, my tears would fall in front of him.

I caught up with her on the street outside the restaurant. She had just lit a damn cigarette, looking rather pleased and chill.

“What the fucking hell was that?!” I snarled, the cold wind chilling the tears on my face. “You’d better have a good exnation, or bI /bswear to the Moon Goddess-”

“That you’ll personally execute me?” she sneered. “Rx. I’m doing you a favor can’t you see? Only your mother would be this good to you.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “Doing me a favor? You call this a fucking favor?! No, no, you’re deliberately sabotaging my rtionship with Grayson! My god, I can’t believe you actually asked him that! I have no idea what he’s thinking now…”

“What are you so afraid of, Aria?” she interrupted with a mocking smile. “Are you afraid that if I force him to marry you, he’ll simply just break up with you?”

I froze.

…Yes, she had named my deepest fear.

Because I knew how much Grayson resisted marriage, and I knew how much he hated being manipted.

But I refused to let my mom know the truth. After a brief silence, bI /bsaid stiffly, “That’s none of your bbusiness/bb./b”

b10:33 /bbFri/bb, /bbSep /bb26 /b

bA /b

in idiot. Stavi

She gave me a big eyeroll. “My god, you’re such an idiot. Staying by his side without a title does you no good. You listen bto /byour mother for this one time. Because soon your face will sag, your pussy won’t be as btight/bb, /bband /bbyou’ll /blose all your appeal to him. Only bing his wife is permanent. And this is your best chance. Lose it, and do you think Alpha Grayson will ever marry a low–ss girl like you ever again?”

“But you’re gambling with my life!” I couldn’t help raising my voice, trembling. “Aren’t you even a little curious about what illness I have? It’s serious. I… I might not have much time left. You’re my mother for fuck’s sake! Aren’t you worried about me at allb?/bb” /b

She blew smoke in my face. b“/bBelieve me. Living in poverty is a hundred times worse than dying.”

I’d had enough of this. I’d had enough of her!

Anger and disappointment filled my chest, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to scream at her, but suddenly I felt like I’d lost all strength. In the end, I did nothing. I just turned and walked back toward the restaurant.

“Don’t tell me you’re only disappointed in me,” my mother said from behind me, her voiceced with a hint of malice. “Grayson would rather watch you die than marry you. Isn’t he the worstb?/bb” /b

Fighting the urge to cover my ears, I quickened my pace back into the restaurant.

But to my surprise, when I returned to the table, Grayson was gone. A guard told me that the Alpha had urgent business and had returned to the hotel.

My heart sank, and I immediately went back to the hotel too.

When I walked into our suite, he was just about to leave the room, followed by his assistant and servants carrying half of our luggage.

“You… you’re leaving? Without me?” I felt my throat tighten.

His expression and voice were still calm. “Urgent pack business came up, You can stay in your hometown a few more days. There’s no hurry.”

“But I want to go back with you! Give me half an hour, I can get ready-”

“I can’t wait,” he cut me off tly, leaving no room for argument.

I flinched, looking at him almost in panic. After a short pause, he reached out and touched my face.

b“/bI’ll be waiting for you at home. We’ll talk when you get back,” he said.

With that, he tried to step past me. I turned sharply and grabbed his arm, my voice trembling. “Are you punishing me because of what my mother said? I can swear to the Moon Goddess that wasn’t my idea! She’s bcrazy/b. You know that…”

“Alpha, the car is here,” his assistant cut in.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Then he pulled his arm from my grasp and strode away.